Device for treating aural difficulties



Dec. 20, 1955 G. x. LEBAU DEVICE FOR TREATING AURAL DIFFICULTIES Filed Sept. 16, 1954 azm -52? 3 2m muhao FIG.-l

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United States Patent Ofilice 2,727,511 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 2,727,511 DEVICE FOR TREATING AURAL DIFFICULTIES Gerald I. Laban, Roselle, N. J. Application September 16, 1954, Serial No. 456,409

4 Claims. (Ci. 12-l5l) This invention relates to a therapeutic device for use in treating certain aural dificulties.

The object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic device which has a beneficial effect on ear drums which have been exposed to excessive external pressures as from noise or from catarrhal conditions.

These objects are secured by means of an annular, valved plug adapted to be inserted snugly and to a predetermined extent into the external ear canal. This plug has a flexible, deformable facing member covering the area enclosed at its inner end (as regards to ear canal). The controlled deflection of the facing member moves the latter externally, i. e., away from the ear drum, and decreases the external pressure thereon as compared to the pressure on the internal side of the ear drum.

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the middle of the entire device with the flexible, deformable, facing member at rest.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of merely the flexible, deformable, facing member at rest, its backing and controlling stem member.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the facing member deformed.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the several views. It is understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

The annular plug 2 is of such dimensions that it can be inserted snuglyinto the external ear canal and has an enlarged guard portion 1 to prevent it from going into the ear canal any further than desired, i. e. a predetermined depth. The term annular is employed to connote that the plug conforms to the contour of the ear canal. The guard portion is molded to the contour of the portion of the external ear upon which it rests. The plug is threaded internally at 4 forming a passageway 12 with the wall of which stem 5 is in threaded engagement. The stem has a slotted head or knob 3 so that it can be rotated manually as, e. g., with a screwdriver. At the inner end of the plug is a flexible, deformable, facing member 6, covering the area enclosed. The plug 2 contains a recessed portion 9 defined by the inner end 11, into which the flexible member can fit on being deformed. The facing member has secured thereto on its outer side a backing member 7 providing an inwardly flanged member with a recessed portion 18. The stem 5 contains at its end a radially extending flange member 8 also which is rotatably coupled within the recessed portion of 7.

The rotation of stem 5 away from the inner ear consequently deflects the flexible facing member 6 as shown in Figure 3.

A pressure releasing means, e. g., a small check valve 13, mounted on facing member 6, is preferably provided so as to relieve the pressure built up following the insertion of the plug. A passageway 14 is provided for the necessary venting. The passageway and location of the check valve can be varied, e. g. the position of the check valve can be changed as well as the passageway. The latter for example could be in the stem member 5 itself.

Variations on this particular structure will be apparent to the skilled in the art. Thus it is not necessary that the passageway 4 be threaded throughout its entire length. A threaded sleeve such as a metal sleeve could be snugly inserted in the passageway to provide the necessary threaded engagement. The rotatable coupling of the backing member could be obtained in other manners known in the art such as by a small ball and socket joint.

The plug of this invention can conveniently all be made of plastic materials such as synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polymeric resins, etc. and various combinations of these. Natural rubber could also be used. The stem is most conveniently metallic and if, desired, metals could be incorporated in the structure to impart additional rigidity as required.

This device will be used under the guidance of properly trained personnel and will be discarded when the desired improvement has been effected.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific example which has been offered merely as as illustration and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A therapeutic device for aural difliculties consisting of an annular plug adapted to fit to a predetermined extent in the outer ear canal, said plug having an inner and outer end and defining an internal threaded passageway longitudinally of the plug, a stem disposed in said plug in threaded engagement with the wall of said passageway, a flexible, deformable facing member for the inner end of said plug covering the area defined by the inner end of the annular plug, said facing member being rotatably coupled to the inner end of the stem so that it can be deflected by controlled rotation of the stem.

2. The plug of claim 1 wherein the deformable member is adapted to provide a variable recessed area inwardly of said annular plug.

3. The plug of claim 2 wherein the flexible facing member contains a backing member on its inward side, said backing member constituting an inwardly flanged member defining a recessed portion and the stem has at its inner end a radially extending flanged member confined Within the flanged member of the backing member.

4. The device of claim 1 in which the plug contains pressure releasing means so as to permit equalization of pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,279,396 Michelson et al. Sept. 17, 1918 2,053,995 Hoey Sept. 8, 1936 2,619,960 Reynolds Dec. 2, 1952 

